Condiff, Tyagi named Queen, King

Nestled in the bouquet of flowers Patricia Condiff received for being the newly crowned Homecoming Queen was a bag of hand warmers.

By ANDREW NASH

Morning Sun

By ANDREW NASH

Posted Oct. 16, 2008 at 12:01 AM
Updated Oct 16, 2008 at 3:05 PM

By ANDREW NASH

Posted Oct. 16, 2008 at 12:01 AM
Updated Oct 16, 2008 at 3:05 PM

PITTSBURG

Nestled in the bouquet of flowers Patricia Condiff received for being the newly crowned Homecoming Queen was a bag of hand warmers.

The crown may as well have been a wool cap.

A dreary, drippy day could not keep a large crowd of Gorillas from Carnie Smith Stadium.

An estimated 3,000 students showed up, umbrellas in hand, to cheer on their friends and vote for the King and Queen.

“We had a great turnout,” Ed Wirthwein, Homecoming advisor, said. “It’s just another of those things at PSU. If there was a foot of snow or if there was 100 degree weather, all of these would be here. It’s tradition and pride.”

The rain didn’t dampen any spirits, as every one of the crowd was on their feet throughout the crowning ceremony. But that could be for another reason.

“No one wants to sit down, because it’d get their butts wet,” PSU football coach Chuck Broyles said.

But the reason they were all there was to see the crowning.

The Homecoming Queen was Patricia Condiff, daughter of Andrew and Dawn Simpson. Patricia is a music education junior from Broken Arrow, Okla., and was nominated by Sigma Alpha Iota. This was the first year her music fraternity nominated someone for queen.

“When they said I was the Homecoming Queen, I thought, ‘Oh my gosh, that’s my name.’ I was just surprised,” Condiff said.

The Homecoming King was Skannd Tyagi, son of Lalit and Unmesh Tyagi. Skannd Tyagi is a computer science and commercial graphics major from Calcutta, India, and was nominated by Alpha Sigma Alpha. Tyagi is the first international student in Pitt State history to be named king or queen.

“I was pretty surprised I won, because I haven’t heard of any international students winning this before,” Tyagi said. “I’m very thankful to the people who supported me.”

The First Queen Attendant was Melissa Skelly, daughter of Fran and Ed Skelly. Skelly is a Spanish and international business major nominated by Alpha Sigma Alpha.

The First King Attendant was Anthony Truon, son of Thanh and Hai Truong. He is a chemistry and biology major nominated by University Student Ambassadors.

The Second Queen Attendant was Melissa McDonald, daughter of Wendy Eaton and Mark McDonald. She is a commercial graphics major nominated by Sigma Phi Epsilon.

The Second King Attendant was Jason Landrum, son of Jim Landrum and Pam Landrum. He is a commercial graphics and marketing major nominated by the Honors College Association.

The 49 candidates were narrowed down to six male finalists and six female finalists by a series of interviews. The criteria included poise, geniality, character, intellect and overall communication.

The winners will be treated to an alumni dinner this week, will lead the Homecoming parade, and will visit the president’s house and skybox, as well as be student ambassadors and delegates for PSU for the next year.

The other finalists were Paresa Tafreshi, Jazmin Ramirez and Samantha Heady for the queen, and Aaron Poe, Nathan Woodward and Anthony Stonerock for the men.

Andrew Nash can be reached at andrew.nash@morningsun.net or by calling 231-2600 ext. 132.